Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-08-20

the modern stage. An upright coffin
standing upon four supporters occupied
the middle of the stage near the fOOtlights.
The feet OF any person who walked around
the coffin could be seen in motion from all
parts of the house, while the body of their
owner was hidden from view in making
the circuit. The magician's wand was in
troduced between each two supporters of the
coffin to show thatnO mirrors were employed
to produce an optical illusion. man was
then tied hand and foot and placed IN the
coffin, the stage darkened, and IN thirty
seconds the lights turned on again, when
the man who was seen to be placed IN the.
coffin appeared standing in the upper gal
lery in the center of the house. The coffin
would then be shown to be empty, and the
seals On the ropes with which the man was
tied would be shown intact and unbrOken.
The secret Of this extraordinary perform
ance died with its originator. His sister,
some years after his death, revealed one
fact alone IN connection with it. 1t took
two men to perform the trick, and it was
double of the man who entered the coffin
that afterWard appeared in the gallery; but
she said she did not know how the man in
the coffin was released and made to disap-
pear. One fact regarding 1t is rather sig
niticant. Heller always made this the
closing feat in his entertainment.
Many travellers in the East Indies have
Witnessed a somewhat similar trick under
entirely dissimilar circumstances. It is a
trick that is never performed by the native
juggier but once in a city, town or village
on the same day. I Witnessed its execu-
ton twice; once in Bombay and once in
Calcutta and l have never seen a descrip-
ton of it In print. * certainly deserves to
be chrOnicled as chief of the most marvel
GUS feats of deception.
A small. understood and attenuated
old Hindoo was the principal IN both of
/ the performances that Witnessed.
He was pariah or outcast. and, therefore,
not allowed within the city limits His
attire approached primeval simplicity as
near as possible, and the young maiden
who acted as his assistant wore a natural
tan draped with sun rays.
He selected an inclosure outside the
Esplanade, near Fort William, and sat upon
a long wicker basket until a sufficiently
/ large crowd had collected to witness his
act.
Taking a common piece Of white cotton
cloth, about six feet square, from the in
side Of his basket be spread 1t on the sun
I burnt stubble and laid a long, finely bur
nlshed rapier upon it. The girl now
I stepped on the center Of the cloth, and
/ the HiudOO magician envelOped her IN two
| coarse sacks-the first reaching from her
( feet to her neck, where il was tightly tied
| IN most uncomfortable looking knot; the
/ second sack was put on over her head and
.
I curely tied. The old man then wound a
I most intrieate-Iooking work of rope
l around the sacks, drawing each loop tight
/ and making knot wherever It crossed q
/ loop The basket was then placed over the
/ girl IN the center OF the cloth, and the cid
/ man proceeded to make some ineanta-
/ ton over it in his native gibberish-
Suddenly he seized tie rapier and
/ plunged It through the wicker basket all OF
twenty times. The point Of the glittering
weapon came through the opposite side Of
the basket at each thrust, and on its with
drawal large fecks OF seeming blood
dipped on the snoW-Whi5e cloth beneath
/ his feet. The most hearHendng. ear
Z piercing shrieks and screams came rom
the basket and the faces Of his spectators
bore the most agonizing Of expressions.
| When the cries had ceased the man pushed
/ the basket over and disol9sed-not the
dead body o. the girl as might have been
3 sEPected-tAe ropes and saaking lying On